Storage-battery plate.



1TH TAT ATENT HARRY M. N. MUHLE, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

STO RAG E-BATTERY PLATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 668,295, dated February 19, 1901.

Application filed October 22, 1900. Serial No. 33,905. (No model.)

ings, and to the letters of reference marked' thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in storage-battery plates.

The invention consists in constructing the plates or grids and the lugs or terminals in one piece.

The object of my invention is to provide a grid for storage-battery plates which is free from the defects which are well known to exist in grids that are now commonly used. These defects may be briefly said to consist of a loss of current which is due the joint resistance, to the liability of sudden breakage of the joints and the difficulty of detecting said breakage, and to the sulfating or corroding of the joints. Sulfating or corroding eats the joints, weakens them, and makes the battery in general sloppy and disagreeable to handle. This sulfatingorcorrodingiscaused by chemical action, which affects the soldered, welded, or fused joints.

In fusing or welding lugs to battery-plates the lead frequently becomes oxidizedin burning. In thus becoming oxidized the lead comprising the lug changes its nature to such an extent as to make the joint susceptible of electrolytic action, there being more or less acid on the joint. Also if the lugs are very thick the burning is not apt to be perfect all the way through. In fact, it is impossible to obtain a burnt joint in as perfect a condition as a cast or stamped joint. In short, the burnt joint in order to be absolutely proof against electrolytic action must be free from oxidation, and this is rarely possible.

In the present invention the lugs or terminals, with the grids, are cast, stamped, or cut in one integral piece. Therefore all joints are dispensed with,.and the lugs or terminals -ner shown in Fig. 6.

at all times remain clear and clean and] free from corrosion.

In a detail description of my invent-ion reference is made to the accompanying drawings, of which Figures 1', 2, and 3, respectively, are plan views of grids constructed in accordance with my invention, showing the manner of constructing a grid with two, three, and four plates which are connected integrally. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 show said grids bent in a suitable manner to be inserted in the battery-cells.

Referring to Fig. 1, O O designate grids which are integrally joined by a connectingbar A. B designates an integral lug from which current is taken, connection being made therewith by means of a binding-post in a well-known manner. This integral lug B projects from the connecting-bar A into the space between the grids O O. The blank thus constructed is bent as shown in Fig. 4:.

The grid shown in Fig. 2 has an extra grid O, which is integrally joined to the connecting-bar A by an integral bar A, the connecting-bar A being in line with the lug B. The grid thus formed is bent in the form shown in Fig. 5, which brings the plates in parallel positions.

The grid shown in Fig. 3 consists of four plates O O, O, and O, the two latter plates being connected to the bar A by bars A and A', which project from the bar A from points between the plates 0 O and the lug B. The blank thus formed is bent in the man- Fig. 2 shows a negative three-plate grid as it comes from the foundry. The positive grid to match this has the two upper plates, as shown in Fig. 1. When the negative and positive grids are placed in operative relation, the plates of grid 1 occupy the spaces between the two outer plates of the grid shown in Figs. 2 and 5.

When both elements have received their active material and are dried, they are ready to bend into the working forms shown in Figs. 4 and 5, which operation is accomplished in a very brief space of time by the use of a vise and pair of pliers. Grids constructed in accordance with this invention offer a perfect electrical path from every part of the plates to the binding-post.

It will be readily appreciated that by con- 'trode are joined in one piece.

structing the lugs or terminals integrally with the plates there is a uniformity of the material throughout, and there is thus avoided the objectionable joints due to soldering or welding the lugs and plates. All the grids and the lug of one electrode are joined in one integral piece, or, in other Words, the grids and lug of the positive or the negative elec- By constructing the grids and lug in one piece any number of plates may be used in a battery. The

always the positive.

that the positive pole is on the peroxid plate.

I claim as my invention In a grid for storage batteries, the combination of two or more plates or grids integrally joined by connecting-bars;- and a lug or terminal integrally joined to said connecting-bars and projecting into the space between two of said grids, the plates or grids adapted. to be bent by means of their confleeting-bars into parallel positions, and the lug or terminal adapted to be bent in a perpendicular posi'tion,snbstantially as specified. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses. Y electrode having the less number of plates is It will be understood HARRY M. N. MUHLE.

Witnesses:

R. J. MCOARTY, OSCAR O. YOUNG. 

